Explore "Barthélémon at Vauxhall" by Thomas Hardy on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Francois Hippolite Barthélémon, first-fiddler at Vauxhall Gardens, / composed what was probably the most popular morning hymn-tune ever / written. It was formerly sung, full-voiced, every Sunday in most / churches, to Bishop Ken's words, but is now seldom heard.
HE said: "Awake my soul, and with the sun,"... / And paused upon the bridge, his eyes due east, / Where was emerging like a full-robed priest / The irradiate globe that vouched the dark as done.
It lit his face-the weary face of one / Who in the adjacent gardens charged his string, / Nightly, with many a tuneful tender thing, / Till stars were weak, and dancing hours outrun.
And then were threads of matin music spun / In trial tones as he pursued his way: / "This is a morn," he murmured, "well begun: / This strain to Ken will count when I am clay!"
And count it did; till, caught by echoing lyres, / It spread to galleried naves and mighty quires.